Jim Harbaugh wants Barack and Michelle Obama to serve as honorary captains for Michigan football

In only two years as Michigan football coach, Jim Harbaugh has turned the Wolverines into the most celebrity-friendly program in the country.

Harbaugh has brought Tom Brady, Derek Jeter, Michael Jordan, Hank Aaron, Usher and even the Pope into the orbit of his football program, but he’s not stopping there.

The coach spent time with Barack and Michelle Obama earlier this week and told reporters Saturday that he will invite them to serve as honorary captains during the upcoming season. Via ESPN:

“We’re making those asks. Official asks,” Harbaugh told reporters Saturday. “In the process of making an official ask. There’s been, ‘Hey, we’d like you to do it,’ and now we’re doing official asks.”

Harbaugh said he spent “39 wonderful minutes” with the former president Wednesday during a visit to Washington, D.C.

“It was incredible,” Jim Harbaugh said. “… Saw Mrs. Obama as well. He was great. He was really relaxed, working on a lot of things. … Shared a lot of insights.”

Harbaugh has long been a public admirer of Barack Obama. He attended the then-president’s State of the Union speech in January 2016 and complimented Obama’s performance.

Michelle and Barack certainly have more time on their hands than they did, say, a year ago, but they might have better uses for that newfound freedom than supporting Michigan football. Then again, Harbaugh’s magic has worked on big names before, so we shouldn’t be surprised if a former president with no ties to Ann Arbor ends up at the 50-yard line of Michigan Stadium next fall.

About Alex Putterman

Alex is a writer and editor for The Comeback and Awful Announcing. He has written for The Atlantic, VICE Sports, MLB.com, SI.com and more. He is a proud alum of Northwestern University and The Daily Northwestern. You can find him on Twitter @AlexPutterman.